Zhang Weili Ethnicity: What Language Does She Speak? All We Know about UFC Champ’s Chinese Background

With a record of 24-3, UFC strawweight champion Zhang Weili is arguably one of the most dominant female fighters in UFC history.  Weili has one of the most complete skill sets in the entire UFC women’s roster. She has wins over top competitors like, Jessica Andrade, Joanna Jedrzejczyk, Carla Esparza and now looks to get a win against Yan Xiaonan this weekend.

Given Zhang Weili isn’t as vocal as most UFC champs, there isn’t much known about who the 24-3 fighter is. Here is some information that will help you know the UFC strawweight champ a little better.

Zhang Weili’s ethnicity, nationality, and place of birth

Zhang Weili was born on August 13, 1989, in Handan, Hebei, China. Though not the first Chinese fighter in the UFC, she is the first person out of the 1.4 billion population to win a UFC world title. Weili proudly brings out the flag of China whenever she fights, representing both her culture and people.

“Magnum’s” made history for her country with a 42-second KO over Andrade in their title bout. But her combat sports journey leading up to that moment started from a very young age. Zhang Weili’s Parents were the ones to introduce the 34-year-old to the full-contact Chinese self-defense system and combat sport Sanda. She, unfortunately, had to retire early from her Sanda career due to suffering a bad back injury.

Weili claimed that she got her inspiration to join MMA after watching Ronda Rousey become the UFC champion back in 2013. In November of the same year, Zhang Weili made her professional MMA debut at the China MMA league where she lost but would go on an absolute tear, winning all 16 of her fights to get a UFC contract. She has now gone 8-2 in her UFC career, winning UFC gold twice.

Also Read: Michael Venom Page’s Ethnicity & Nationality: Where Is the UFC Star From?

What language does Weili speak?

Zhang Weili, being from the Hebei district is fluent in Jilu Mandarin, Beijing Mandarin, and Jin. Weili does most of her interviews in Mandarin but she has shown interest in learning English to get herself through to her fans, and perhaps even her opponents.

Prior to Weili’s first title defense at UFC 248 against Joanna Jedrzejczyk, the two went back and forth, with Jedrzejczyk trying to intimidate the Chinese champion during the face-off. However, Weili was quick to respond to “JJ’s” trash-talk with a swift but stern “Shut Up!” which could be credited to her time taking English tuition at the time.

Following the face-off, she gave an interview with Ariel Helwani (who was working for ESPN at the time) and spoke in English at the request of the MMA analyst. The fans in the comments credited her effort to learn and speak the language and found her trash talk “cute.” 

Come UFC 300, Weili will have been a part of the select few to etch their name in history as a part of the UFC’s celebrated tricentennial PPV card. Do you think she can triumph over fellow Chinese star Yan Xiaonan? Let us know in the comments.

Also Read: Song Yadong Ethinicty and Background: Where Is the UFC Bantamweight From?